Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) - British trees - Woodland Trust Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) Rowan trees can live for up to 200 years Leaves are arranged like a feather Each leaflet is long, oval and has a toothed edge Leaves are feather-like with fight to eight pairs of leaflets (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) Flowers appear in dense clusters and each has five creamy white petals (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) Rowan is widely planted as a street or garden tree (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) The seeds from the scarlet rowan berries are dispersed by birds (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) Each leaflet is long and pointed at the end Twigs are smooth to the touch Leaf buds on twigs are purple and hairy (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) Rowan bark is smooth and silvery-grey (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) Rowan grows well on high ground and can be found growing wild in the Scottish Highlands (Photo: A Cleave/WTML) Rowan is also known as mountain ash and is native to the UK and northern and western Europe.

Common name: rowan, mountain ash Scientific name: Sorbus aucuparia Family: Rosaceae UK provenance: native Interesting fact: the rowan is also known as the mountain ash, due to the fact that it grows well at high altitudes and its leaves are similar to those of the ash, Fraxinus excelsior. However, the two species are not related. What does rowan look like? Overview: mature trees can grow to 15m and can live for up to 200 years. The bark is smooth and silvery grey, and leaf buds are purple and hairy. Leaves: pinnate (like a feather), comprising 5-8 pairs of leaflets, plus one 'terminal' leaflet at the end. Each leaflet is long, oval and toothed. Flowers: rowan is hermaphrodite, meaning each flower contains both male and female reproductive parts. Flowers are borne in dense clusters, each one bearing five creamy white petals Fruits: after successful pollination by insects, they develop into scarlet fruits. The seeds are dispersed by birds. Look out for: it has 5-8 pairs of serrated leaflets which are distinctive.

Could be confused with: ash (Fraxinus excelsior) or elder (Sambucus nigra), however, the leaflets are serrated and more or less pointed at the end in rowan than both of these. Identified in winter by: the young twigs start hairy and become smooth later. Buds are hairy all over. Terminal buds (on the ends of shoots) are up to 8mm in length and lateral buds (in leaf axils) have 2-5 scales. Where to find rowan Native to cooler regions of the northern hemisphere and most common in the UK in the north and west, it often grows in high altitude locations. It is commonly found in the wild, particularly in the highlands of Scotland, but it is also widely planted as a street or garden tree. Value to wildlife The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of a number of moths, including the larger Welsh wave and autumn green carpet. Caterpillars of the apple fruit moth feed on the berries.

Flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinating insects, while the berries are a rich source of autumn food for birds, especially the blackbird, mistle thrush, redstart, redwing, song thrush, fieldfare and waxwing. Mythology and symbolism The colour red was considered to be the best colour for fighting evil, and so the rowan, with its bright red berries, has long been associated with magic and witches. Its old Celtic name is 'fid na ndruad', which means wizards' tree. In Ireland it was planted near houses to protect them against spirits, and in Wales rowan trees were planted in churchyards. Cutting down a rowan was considered taboo in Scotland. The wood was used for stirring milk to prevent it curdling, and as a pocket charm against rheumatism. It was also used to make divining rods. How we use rowan The wood is pale yellow-brown with a deeper brown heartwood. It is strong, hard and tough, but not particularly durable. It is sometimes used in turnery, furniture, craftwork and engraving.

Rowan berries are edible to humans - they are sour but rich in vitamin C, and can be used to make a jelly to accompany meats. Threats Rowan can be susceptible to fireblight and may be affected by silver leaf disease. It can also suffer from browsing by deer. Trees need your help... will buy and install a bat or bird box to support woodland wildlife. Every £30 you give will pay for brambles to be cut back encouraging wildflowers to grow. Every £50 you give will pay for the land, planting and care of five oak saplings. Want to donatea different amount? Whatever you choose to give, your donation will help us protect woodland and wildlife. Trees need your help... Irish Trees - Native Woodland Trust Irish Trees Payment Cancelled Irish Trees Ireland has a lower number of native tree species than would be found in Britain, due to the manner in which trees spread from mainland Europe after the last ice age. We have take a more in-depth look at many species in our 'Tree Focus' articles in our 'Woodland' magazine - links are provided below to these articles for trees we have featured. The articles are provided in PDF format.

Alder / Alnus glutinosa / Fearnóg: A tree commonly seen near water, alder is very tolerant of wet conditions (though prefers flowing to stagnant water). A medium sized, fast growing tree, reaching 20m at maturity, it is quick to colonise new ground. The wood is slow to rot, and was often used to make sluice gates in canals. It is a relative of the birch. Click here to read about the Alder in our 'Tree Focus' article. Ash / Fraxinus excelsior / Fuinseog: Ash is a large, common deciduous tree, probably the most common farmland tree. It is late to come into leaf (hence the Irish tradition that potatoes can be planted until you can no longer see through the tree). The wood is traditionally used to make hurleys. They can grow up to 45m high. Click here to read about the Ash in our 'Tree Focus' article. Aspen / Populus tremula / Crann creathach: The Irish for aspen and the Latin name give away one of the characteristics of the tree, that of its trembling behaviour in the wind.

It is a member of the poplar family, and can spread by suckering as well as seeds. It is not a common tree in Ireland. Birch / Betula pendula / Beith gheal: There are two species of birsh in Ireland, silver birch and downy birch. Birch is a colonising tree, and is thought to be one of the first trees to have made it to Ireland after the last ice age; they are more tolerant of poor soils than most trees, and can act as a nurse species to other species which take longer to establish. They are quick growing, short lived, and grow to around 25 metres. Click here to read about the Birch in our 'Tree Focus' article. Bird cherry / Prunus padus / Donnroisc: The bird cherry is so called because it is only birds which can eat the fruit. It is mainly found in the north west, and is a small tree, reaching about 15 metres.

Wild cherry / Prunus avium / Crann silíní fiáin: Often found on the edges of woods and in old hedges, they prefer fertile limey soils, so are most often found inthe east and midlands. Their cherries are edible. It is not a tall tree, reaching about 20 metres in height. Crab apple / Malus sylvestris / Crann fia-úll: A small tree of about 15 metres when mature, crab apple is similar to wild cherry in that it is more often found on the edges of woods than in them. The apples are edible, if bitter, and can be used to make jelly. Elder / Sambucus nigra / Troman: Elder is a small tree, growing to approximately 6m in height, known for its white flowers in spring, and its dark purple to black berries in the autumn. It is a common hedgrow tree, and is not common in developed woodland. Click here to read about the Elder in our 'Tree Focus' article.

Hazel / Corylus avellana / Coll: Generally an understorey tree, hazel is often found underneath a canopy of ash or oak, but can also be found in hazel scrub such as the Burren. It is a shrub rather than a tree, reaching a height of about 5 metres. The nuts are of course edible, but are produced far less by understorey trees than by trees which are less in the shade. Click here to read about the Hazel in our 'Tree Focus' article. Holly / Ilex aquifolium / Cuileann: Holly is one of our few evergreen trees, famous for its red berries (only produced by the female plant, and also leading to it being endangered in some places due to demand at Christmas); it is common as an understorey tree, but is also a very hardy tree, and can be found on mountainsides where most other trees would perish. It grows to around 15 metres. Click here to read about the Holly in our 'Tree Focus' article. Pedunculate oak / Quercus robur / Dar ghallda: The oak is one of our largest and longest lived (second to yew in the longevity stakes).

Pedunculate oak is the less common of our two native oak species; it is found on heavier, more alkaline soils in the midlands. Pedunculate oak produces acorns on stalks, which will distinguish it from sessile oak acorns which do not have stalks. Sessile oak / Quercus petraea / Dair ghaelach: Found on less fertile, more acidic soils than the pedunculate oak, sessile oak is more common, but found mostly on the west coast. Oaks can reach a height of 40 metres, and can take several hundred years to mature, but provide a rich habitat for other species. Its wood is famed, and the timber and bark has been put to many uses down the years. Rowan / Sorbus aucuparia / Caorthann: Also known as the mountain ash, due to its leaf structure. A small tree, it is tolerant of poor soils (which is where it gets the name mountain ash) and makes a good coloniser. The berries provide food for birds, which help spread the tree.

Scots pine / Pinus sylvestris / Péine albanach: Arguably once extinct from Ireland, most scots pine in Ireland has been reintroduced from Scotland. A tall tree, of about 40 metres, it is also relatively long lived. It is tolerant of marginal land, and provides food for red squirrels, who eat its seed. Spindle / Euonymus europaeus / Feoras: A small tree growing to 6m, spindle is not a common tree, but is notable for its colourful pink berries and orange seeds. Click here to read about the Spindle in our 'Tree Focus' article. Strawberry tree / Arbutus unedo / Caithne: An tree with an unusual range, in that it is widespread in Spain and Portugal, and also in the southwest of Ireland but nowhere else in the British Isles, it is an evergreen tree which produces unusual fruits which resemble strawberries. These are edible, but not a pleasant snack. It is a small tree. Click here to read about the Strawberry Tree in our 'Tree Focus' article.

Whitebeam / Sorbus aria / Fionncholl: A relative of the rowan, the whitebeam also produces edible red berries, but it has a different distribution in that it prefers the south east of the country. It reaches a height of around 20 metres. Click here to read about the Whitebeam in our 'Tree Focus' article. Willow / Salix species / Saileach: Willow forms a continuum of species, which are often difficult to distinguish. A tree which is very tolerant of waterlogged soil, it can often be found in marshy ground. Famous for its use in weaving baskets, the wood is very pliable and the tree can be coppiced or pollarded to produce willow whips for this purpose. Wych elm / Ulmus glabra / Leamhán sléibhe: A large, long lived tree, wych elm can reach 40 metres and live for hundreds of years. Not as susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease as the field elm, they can still be found in some woodland. Mountain Ash Mountain Ash Quickbeam Rowan Tree Mountain ash is a name given to a species that belongs to the genus Sorbus (sub-genus Sorbus) of the Rosacaea family.

Trees and shrubs of this species are tough and are known as rowans in Europe. They form exceptional garden decoration trees and are indigenous to the Northern Hemisphere, especially most regions of Europe, barring the far south, and also the northern regions of Asia. In the southern regions of its range, the species, particularly the Mediterranean region, it is only found growing in the highlands. Mountain ash is a deciduous tree and is in no way related to the true ash. Trees of this species are usually undersized, but some of them may be found growing up to a height of 60 feet. The trees or shrubs of this species bears alternate and pinnate (leaflets or primary divisions arranged on each side of a common stalk) leaves comprising anything between 11 to 17 leaflets that are oblong shaped. These leaflets are soft and have bristles on the downside. The mountain ash trees bear flat-topped clusters of creamy white hued blossoms during May. The fruits of the trees resemble round berries and have a vivid orange or radiant red hue. These berries grow in bunches and possess astringent properties and are used for therapeutic purposes.

It is interesting to note that while the mountain ash is a very popular ornamental tree these days, there was a time when the tree was considered to bring ill luck. It is possible that the ill repute of mountain ash was owing to the fact that Celtic Druids had revered the mountain ash. During the 15th and 16th centuries, the tree became associated with witchcraft in England. Somehow, the mountain ash earned a reputation as a symbol of atheists and something that was weird or ghostlike. There was a time when even the herbalists refused to make any mention of the mountain ash owing to its ill repute as a symbol of paganism. Nevertheless, the red berries of the tree were alluring for the birds and even the hunters used the fruits of mountain ash as baits or traps to entice the birds. This was the primary reason why the species acquired the name ï¿½aucuparia' drawn from the Latin expression denoting ï¿½to go fowling' or ï¿½to go hunting birds'. When the early European settlers arrived in the New World (the North and South Americas), they brought with them the berries of the mountain ash, or rowans, as they called it.

The rounded bright berries of mountain ash were comparable to the cranberries . People not only prepared several delicious items with these berries, such as jams, jellies, pies and even a bitter-sweet flavored wine, but the fruits of mountain ash also possessed numerous therapeutic properties. Basically, the fruits or berries were used as an astringent. Even today, herbal medicine practitioners recommend a tea prepared with the mountain ash berries to treat diarrhea as well as hemorrhoids (abnormally enlarged veins primarily owing to a constant augmentation in venous pressure, occurring inside the anal sphincter of the rectum and beneath the mucous membrane (internal hemorrhoid) or outside the anal sphincter and beneath the surface of the anal skin). In addition, owing to the rich vitamin C content, the mountain ash berries were especially prescribed to treat scurvy (a disease with symptoms of swollen and bleeding gums , livid spots on the skin, prostration, etc) - caused by shortage of vitamin C in the body. Parts used Fruit, leaves. Uses As discussed above, the acerbic or caustic berries of the mountain ash are ingested in the form of jam or infusion to cure diarrhea and hemorrhoids.

Infusions prepared with these rounded red berries may also be used for rinsing the mouth to treat tender throats as well as a wash for hemorrhoids and disproportionate discharge from the vagina. The fruits or berries of the mountain ash may be consumed raw or cooked. In fact, these berries are very acidic and consuming large amounts of the raw mountain ash fruits may result in stomach disorders. While the berries may be dried, pounded and used as flour blended with cereals, despite their acidic properties, some people prepare jams, jellies and other preserves with them. Harvesting of mountain ash berries is quite easy as each of them is approximately 7.5 mm in diameter and is produced in huge clusters. In many areas, the leaves as well as the flowers of the mountain ash are often used as a substitute for tea . Many believe that the young leaves of this species are useful as food during famines, but they enclose cyanogenic glycoside , which is considered to be toxic both for men and animals. Hence, one needs to be intensely hungry before they even contemplate of consuming this toxic leaves. According to reports available, the roasted seeds of mountain ash are also used as a substitute for coffee by people in many areas.

The bark of the mountain ash trees possesses astringent properties and is widely used for treating diarrhea as well as a vaginal injection to cure leucorrhoea and other conditions. The red berry-like fruits of the trees possess anti-scorbutic (efficacious against scurvy) and astringent properties and they are used for the treatment of diarrhea and hemorrhoids. People suffering from these conditions are given jams or infusion prepared with the mountain ash fruits. In addition, infusion prepared with the mountain ash fruits may also be used as a gargle for sore throats and a wash to heal hemorrhoids and extreme vaginal discharges. On the other hand, the seeds enclose a toxic substance known as cyanogenic glycoside which produces an extremely poisonous acid known as prussic acid when it comes in contact with or have a reaction with water . When taken in small measures, the seeds or medications prepared with the seeds encourage respiration, but when administered in large dosages, it results in breathlessness and may even result in respiratory failure and death. Hence, it is always advisable to get rid of the seeds before you use the fruits either as food or for therapeutic purposes.

The flowers as well as the fruits of the mountain ash are known to be aperient (having a mild purgative or laxative effect), diuretic and emmenagogue (medication promoting menstrual discharge). Infusion prepared with the flowers and fruits of this tree is effective in treating excruciating menstruation , constipation as well as kidney diseases . The mountain ash seeds yield oil. The fruits of the tree are used to prepare a cosmetic facial mask that is applied with a view to treat wrinkled skin . The young branches of the tree form an important ingredient in preparing a black dye. In fact, all parts of the mountain ash tree have high tannin content and, hence, they can be used to prepare black dye. The trees are hardy and wind resistant making them a useful species in shelterbelt plantings. The timber of the mountain ash is tough, fine grained, and dense as well as flexible. While the wood turners recommend the mountain ash timber highly, the wood from the tree is also used to manufacture bands or rings for barrels, cogs as well as furniture.

Habitat and cultivation The mountain ash is an indigenous plant in Europe, but over the years the species has been naturalized in several places across the globe, including North America where it is found growing in the wild from Newfoundland to south-western Alaska and British Columbia. The tree is also found in abundance in the region that is south to the northern region of the United States. Mountain ash shrubs and trees thrive well in almost all practically fine soil and have a preference for full sunlight. Although the species is able to put up with some shade, it bears better and more fruits when grown in sunny locales. The trees of this species grow best in heavy clay soils. Mountain ash has a preference for a cool and humid place where the soil condition ranges from lighter neutral to somewhat acidic. In addition, the mountain ash also thrives well on chalk or acidic peats, but has an aversion to superficial soils as well as drought conditions. The trees of this species are extremely wind resistant and can even endure maritime locations. The trees are also resistant to wind pollution. A number of specific varieties of the mountain ash have been developed especially for their superior foods that are not only larger, but also sweeter compared to fruits borne by most varieties of the species.

The young plants, particularly the seedlings of mountain ash, grow very rapidly. It is interesting to note that the berry-like red fruits of mountain ash are a favorite with the birds and as many as 28 different species of pests are related to this tree. While the trees adapt well in coppices, the young plants are vulnerable to fireblight (a plant disease that blackens the leaves). The mountain ash is propagated by means of its seeds. It is best to sow the seeds in a cold frame as soon as they are mature or ripe. In case you possess an adequate amount of seeds, you may also sow some of them in seedbeds outdoors. If you are using stored seeds for propagation, you need to give them two weeks of warm followed by around 14 to 16 weeks of cold stratification for them to germinate better. Hence, it is important that you should sow the seeds as early as possible. When the seedlings have grown sufficient enough to be handled, take them out individually and plant them in separate containers . During the first one or two years of their existence, the seedlings have very little aerial growth as they are engaged in developing an excellent root system during this period.

It is advisable to keep the pots in the cold frame during the first winter and subsequently plant them in their permanent positions outdoors during the following spring. Constituents Chemical analysis of the mountain ash fruits or berries has established that they enclose tannins, sorbic acid, sorbitol , malic acid and vitamin C. The seeds of these berries contain cyanogenic glycosides that when in contact with water cause a chemical reaction producing the tremendously venomous prussic acid. Side effects and cautions Consumption of large amounts of the raw mountain ash fruits or berries may result in vomiting , particularly if people are not habituated to taking the fruits. It is believed that the seeds of the mountain ash fruits enclose hydrogen cyanide, an element that gives the almonds their typical flavor. It is important to mention here that except for extremely bitter seeds of mountain fresh, it is safe to consume them in practical amounts. When taken in measured or small amounts, seeds containing hydrogen cyanide have demonstrated that they promote respiration as well as perk up the digestion. Some herbal medicine practitioners also assert that the seeds of mountain ash are useful in treating cancer . Nevertheless, when they are consumed in excess, the seeds may also result in breathlessness and even cause death.

UK British Native Trees|Woodlands|Landscaping|and|Garden|Design Chestnuts (Aesculus and Castanea spp) – Horse Chestnut - Genus: Aesculus and Sweet Chestnut - Genus: Castanea CRAB APPLE (Malus sylvestris) - Malus sylvestris is a species of crabapple, native to Europe from Spain, Italy and Greece to southern Scandinavia and Russia. Its scientific name means forest apple. In the past, it was thought to be an important ancestor of the cultivated apple (Malus domestica), but these are now known to be derived from the central Asian species Malus sieversii. The truly wild tree has thorns and the flowers are hermaphrodite which are pollinated by insects. Dog Rose (Rosa canina) ELDER - Common elder (Sambucus nigra) - Sambucus nigra is a species of elder native to most of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia.It is most commonly called just Elder or Elderberry, but also Black Elder, European Elder, European Elderberry, European Black Elderberry, Common Elder, or Elder Bush when distinction from other species of Sambucus is needed.

It grows in a variety of conditions including both wet and dry fertile soils, primarily in sunny locations. ELM - Genus: Ulmus (Ulmus spp) – Wych Elm - Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus, family Ulmaceae. Elms first appeared in the Miocene period about 40 million years ago. Originating in central Asia, the tree flourished and established itself over most of the Northern Hemisphere. Firs (Abies spp) GORSE (Ulex europaeus) - Ulex europaeus, commonly known as the Common Gorse, is an evergreen shrub in the family Fabaceae, native to western Europe from a northerly point of The United Kingdom south to Portugal, and Westerly point of Ireland east to Galiza in Belgium. It grows to 1-2 m (3-7 ft) tall,rarely 3 m (10 ft). The young stems are green, with the leaves modified into green spines, 1-3 cm (0.4-1.4 in) long.

Young seedlings produce normal leaves for the first few months; these are trifoliate, resembling a small clover leaf.The flowers are yellow, 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) long, with the typical pea-flower structure. Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) HAWTHORN(Crataegus spp) – Common (May tree) and Midland - The name hawthorn was originally applied to the species native to northern Europe, especially the Common Hawthorn C. monogyna, and the unmodified name is often so used in Britain and Ireland. They are shrubs and small trees growing to 5-15 m tall, characterised by their small pome fruit and thorny branches. The bark is smooth grey in young individuals, developing shallow longitudinal fissures with narrow ridges in older trees. The fruits are sometimes known as "haws", from which the name derived. The thorns grow from branches, and are typically 1-3 cm long. The leaves grow spirally arranged on long shoots, and in clusters on spur shoots on the branches or twigs. The leaves themselves have lobed or serrate margins and are somewhat variable shape.

HAZEL (Corylus avellana) - The Common Hazel (Corylus avellana) is a species of hazel native to Europe and western Asia, from the British Isles south to Iberia, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, north to central Scandinavia, and east to the central Ural Mountains, the Caucasus, and northwestern Iran. The Common Hazel is a shrub common in many European woodlands. It is an important component of the hedgerows that were the traditional field boundaries in lowland England. The wood was traditionally grown as coppice, the poles cut being used for wattle-and-daub building and agricultural fencing HOLLY (Ilex aquifolium) - It is an evergreen tree growing to 10-25m tall and 40-80 cm (rarely 1 m or more) trunk diameter, with smooth grey bark. The leaves are 5-12 cm long and 2-6 cm broad, variable in shape; on young plants and low branches, with three to five sharp spines on each side, pointing alternately upward and downward; on higher branches of older trees with few or no spines except for the leaf tip, often entire.

The flowers are dioecious, white, four-lobed,and pollinated by bees. The fruit is a red drupe 6-10 mm diameter, containing four pits; although mature in late autumn, they are very bitter so are rarely touched by birds until late winter after frost has made them softer and more palatable. They are slightly poisonous for people. HORNBEAM (Carpinus betulus) - A small to medium-size tree reaching heights of 15-25 m, rarely 30 m, and often has a fluted and crooked trunk. The bark is smooth and greenish-grey, even in old trees. The buds, unlike those of the beech, are 10 mm long at the most, and pressed close to the twig. The leaves are alternate, 4-9 cm long, with prominent veins giving a distinctive corrugated texture, and a serrated margin. It is monoecious, and the wind pollinated male and female catkins appear in May after the leaves. The fruit is a small 7-8 mm long nut, partially surrounded by a three-pointed leafy involucre 3-4 cm long;it matures in autumn.

The seeds often do not germinate till the spring of the second year after sowing. The hornbeam is a prolific seeder and is marked by vigorous natural regeneration. JUNIPER (Juniperus communis) - It is commonly used in horticulture as an ornamental shrub, but is too small to have any general wood usage. In Scandinavia,however, juniper wood is used for making containers for storing small quantities of dairy products such as butter and cheese, and also for making wooden butter knives. Its astringent blue-black seed cones, commonly known as "juniper berries",are too bitter to eat raw and are usually sold dried and used to flavour meats,sauces, and stuffings. They are generally crushed before use to release their flavour. The cones are used to flavour gin. In fact, the word 'gin' is derived from the French word for juniper berry, genièvre, which is the name forgin in France.

Laburnum (Laburnum spp) Larch (Larix spp) – European and Japanese LIME - Genus: Tilia (Tilia spp) – Large Leaved, Small Leaved - The trees are generally called lime in Britain and linden in parts of Europe and North America(where they are also known as basswood). Tilia species are large deciduous trees, reaching typically 20–40 mt all, with oblique-cordate leaves 6–20 cm across, and are found through the north temperate regions. The exact number of species is subject to considerable uncertainty, as many or most of the species will hybridise readily, both in the wild and in cultivation. MAPLE - Genus: Acer (Acer spp) – Field, Japanese, Norway and Silver - Acercampestre, common name Field Maple, is a maple native to much of Europe,north to southern England (where it is the only native maple). It is a medium-sized deciduous tree reaching 15-25 m tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter, with finely fissured, often somewhat corky bark. The shoots are brown, with dark brown winter buds.

The leaves are in opposite pairs, 5-16 cm long (including the 3-9 cm petiole)and 5–10 cm broad, with five blunt, rounded lobes with a smooth margin. MOUNTAIN ASH - Genus: Sorbus OAK - Genus: Quercus (Quercus spp) – English, Holm, Sessile and Turkey - Quercus robur (sometimes considered Q. pedunculata) is commonly known as the pedunculate oak or English oak. It is native to most of Europe, and to Asia Minor to the Caucasus, and also to parts of North Africa.

PINE - Genus: Pinus (Pinus spp) – Corsican and Scots - The Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Ireland, Great Britain and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as Lapland.In the north of its range, it occurs from sea level to 1000 m, while in the south of its range, it is a high altitude mountain tree, growing at 1200-2600 m ASL. POPLAR - Genus: Populus (Populus spp) – Aspen, Black, Lombardy and White - Populus is a genus of between 25–35 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. English names variously applied to different species include poplar, aspen, and cottonwood.The genus has a large genetic diversity, and can grow from anywhere between 15–50m tall, with trunks of up to 2.5 m diameter.

Robinia / False Acacia / Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) ROWAN / MOUNTAIN ASH - Genus: Sorbus (Sorbus aucuparia) - Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan or European Rowan), is a species of the genus Sorbus (subgenus Sorbus), native to most of Europe except for the far south, and northern Asia. In the south of its range in the Mediterranean region it is confined to high altitudes in mountains.It has received many alternative names, the most frequently seen being "Mountain Ash". It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree typically growing to 8–10m tall, more rarely 20 m, and exceptionally to 28 m. Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Sorbus (Sorbus spp) STRAWBERRY TREE (Arbutus unedo) - The Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean region and western Europe north to western France and Ireland.Due to its presence in South West Ireland, it is also known as Irish strawberry tree, and Killarney strawberry tree.

Pests and Diseases - Chalara dieback of ash - Questions and Answers Chalara dieback of ash Share How were diseased ash plants allowed to enter Britain? Hymenoscyphus fraxineus is not a “regulated” plant disease organism in European Union plant health law, which means that ash plants moved between Member States are not subject to inspection. What regulatory protection measures were in place to stop it coming in? EU legislation allows Member States to take national measures to prevent the entry and spread of pests and diseases not found on their territory, and the UK introduced such legislation for Great Britain on 29 October 2012. Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have similar legislation. Can we eradicate it? No. The disease is now established in Great Britain and it will be impossible to eradicate. Why is this organism not regulated at EU level? The disease is already established in much of eastern and northern Europe, so action across the EU is not realistic. However, regions which remain free of the disease can be considered for “protected zone” status, which would introduce requirements for ash plants being moved into the region to come from a designated "pest-free area" for H. fraxineus.

No such pest-free areas have yet been designated in any country. Why can't we grow our own ash trees here instead of importing them? We can and do grow our own trees, and people have the option to specify British-grown trees and plants if they wish. We strongly advise tree and plant buyers to be very careful to specify healthy stock from reputable suppliers, to practise good plant hygiene and biosecurity in their own gardens and woodlands etc to prevent accidental spread of plant diseases, and to report any notifiable plant diseases. Buyers should also be aware that seed gathered from British trees is sometimes sent to nurseries in continental Europe to be cultivated before being re-imported as seedlings. I own or manage ash trees - how can I help? There are several things you can do to help us get this disease under control. a. Be vigilant – Chalara dieback could appear in ash trees anywhere in Britain. We encourage you to inspect frequently any ash trees in your care, and especially any which have been planted during the past seven or so years. Make yourself familiar with the symptoms of Chalara dieback from the materials here. There are other causes of ash dieback, so it is important to distinguish them from Chalara dieback.

However, if in doubt, report it. b. Report it - if you think you have seen Chalara symptoms on ash trees in a new area of the country, please report them to us via our TreeAlert on-line form at . See the map at to check whether Chalara dieback has already been confirmed in your area. c. Buy with care – Be careful when buying plants to buy only from reputable suppliers, and specify disease-free stock. A list of countries where H. fraxineus is known to be present is at Question 7. d. Be diligent - Practise good plant hygiene and biosecurity in your own gardens and woodlands etc to prevent accidental spread of plant diseases. See our biosecurity advice for guidance on basic hygiene and biosecurity measures which you can take. e. Keep up to date – Check our website regularly for updates on developments. ‘Follow’ our Tree Pest News account on Twitter at to receive rapid intelligence of new developments, delivered by text or email. I have a grant or felling-licence agreement to plant ash trees this season. May I plant another species instead? Now that movements of ash plants are prohibited, it is not possible to plant ash seedlings which are not already on the site.

We are operating a flexible approach for those customers with existing grant or licence agreements which specify ash as a planting species, but it is essential that owners discuss the situation with their local Forestry Commission woodland officer before planting alternatives. Further information about felling licences and how to obtain them is available on the following pages: Scotland What species should I plant instead? Species choice should be guided by management objectives and site conditions, and the decision tool Ecological Site Classification ESC3 is the key tool to help review options which are likely to be sustainable in the future climate. Detailed guidance on species choice in native broadleaved woodland can be found in Harmer, R., Kerr, G. and Thompson, R. 2010 Managing Native Broadleaved Woodland, from The Stationery Office, Edinburgh . There is a wide range of alternatives species for sites with brown-earth soils, including aspen, beech, birch, field maple, hornbeam, oak, lime, rowan, sweet chestnut and sycamore. The species range is more restricted for calcareous soils, particularly shallow ones, and includes beech, birch, field maple, hawthorn, holly, lime, rowan, whitebeam and yew.

Alder, aspen, willows and oaks are possible alternatives on moist to wet soils. On sites where there are few restraints, non-native species can also be considered, and guidance can be found in the tree species information on the Forest Research website and links therein. Some of the alternative species to ash, such as beech, sycamore and Norway maple, are particularly susceptible to bark stripping by grey squirrels. There is a wider range of species to choose from for the urban environment, and the Right Tree for a Changing Climate website provides information on more than 300 species. What advice do you have for the trade? Be careful about the sourcing of, and the specification for, your plants. Keep good records of any imported stock, remain vigilant, inspect any recent plantings of ash, and report any suspicious signs. What advice do you have for the public? We welcome reports of ash with Chalara dieback symptoms. Please check with our symptoms guides and videos . Please also follow the biosecurity advice on any signs at affected sites, to avoid accidentally spreading the disease on your boots, clothes, bicycle wheels etc. What does a Plant Health Notice involve?

Owners of any recently planted ash plants which are found to be infected, or infected ash plants in nurseries or garden centres, can be served with statutory Plant Health Notices requiring them to destroy the plants, either by burning or deep burial on site, or to take steps to contain the disease on site. Owners of infected ash plants plants in a new-planting site are advised to voluntarily remove and dispose of the plants to prevent the disease spreading regardless of whether they express symptoms of the disease. This is because experience with other plant diseases shows that we must presume that asymptomatic plants in close proximity to symptomatic plants are almost certainly infected, but are not yet showing symptoms. In an established woodland or similar site, the Plant Health Notice will require movement restrictions and biosecurity measures to prevent the disease being spread from the site while we consider our disease control strategy. Can the timber from infected ash trees still be used? The timber in infected trees can still be usable for some purposes, although staining by the fungus might limit the range of end uses. Last updated: 1st September 2015

Question: The native British tree generally known as the Mountain Ash has which alternative name?
Answer: ROWAN